poleaxe

American  

[pohl-aks] / ˈpoʊlˌæks /

noun

PLURAL

poleaxes poleaxed, poleaxing

1. variant of poleax.

---

poleaxe British  

/ ˈpəʊlˌæks /

noun

1. another term for battle-axe

2. a former naval weapon with an axe blade on one side of the handle and a spike on the other

3. an axe used by butchers to slaughter animals

---

verb

1. (tr) to hit or fell with or as if with a poleaxe

Etymology

Origin of poleaxe

C14 pollax battle-axe, from _poll + _axe

Example Sentences

Edwards stepped across, right arm outstretched, and poleaxed the Australian second row.

From BBC

"Overall, the Nikkei would be poleaxed, and global equity markets would also weaken."

From Reuters

However, the Hotline gives no credit in the power ratings for poleaxing FCS opponents.

From Seattle Times

The high temperatures come just four months after Texas power was poleaxed by the February freeze, and only two weeks after the Texas grid wobbled again in its own heat wave.

From Seattle Times

At 44, after more than two decades of unbroken success, he was poleaxed by his first major reversal of fortune.

From The Guardian